Matching Original Paint

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Nov 2, 2017 | 11:42 AM

Ruckin69

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Matching Original Paint

So I want to swap mirrors from the classic tow mirror to a different style and I'll be left with hooles in the door. How hard is it to blend the holes to avoid painting the entire truck?

Nov 2, 2017 | 01:32 PM

meangreen92

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I think body shops can match it electronically. If going that route, I think I'd clean and polish the paint which will be sampled for the match.
The mirror holes are a fairly small area, so as long as you can get your surface-blends right, and the paint is a good match, it's very doable. That's how I would want to do it.

Nov 2, 2017 | 02:28 PM

Ruckin69

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Is that process succesful on an original paint job on a 79 truck?

Nov 2, 2017 | 04:26 PM

enrand

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Micro Finish

I have used aerosols from Microfinish in Louisiana on two vehicles with great results.
Of course it is short of a pro shop job.

Nov 2, 2017 | 04:34 PM

meangreen92

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A bolt hole is such a small area that you really don't even need to spray. You can probably just brush it on. The trick is leveling the repaired area out to the rest of the paint. Once it's very near level, you would then sand the repair and its surrounding areas, (square inch maybe) and then polish and buff it out.
A perfect job will be unnoticeable, while a halfway decent DIY job will still go unnoticed by all but those who know to look for the repair, and maybe detail-oriented folk like painters and body men.

Nov 3, 2017 | 07:17 PM

72rtchallenger

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From: KY

Is it two stage paint or single like original paint ? If its two stage it is easier to blend if you match close base paint, but single stage paint is almost impossible to match

Nov 3, 2017 | 07:58 PM

rougeriver

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From: Wichita Falls TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72rtchallenger

Is it two stage paint or single like original paint ? If its two stage it is easier to blend if you match close base paint, but single stage paint is almost impossible to match

I've never found that to be the case; the difficulty in color matching paints has less to do with single or two-stage paints, and more with whether it's a solid or metallic color, and the condition of the paint to be matched. But regardless, a good automotive paint store can match most any color with very good results.

David

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Nov 3, 2017 | 09:08 PM

72rtchallenger

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Joined: Jul 2017

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From: KY

Quote:

Originally Posted by rougeriver

You can sand the top clear coat off in small area and paint small area as close as possible with base paint , and then clear coat little larger area over base an blend in the clear to rest of panel or door or fender by sanding an buffing as clear coat is easier to buff in small areas without having do the larger area ,,single stage paint you must do complete panel or fender to get even close,,as far as matching, an yes the hope is to have the same paint or way of matching any color whether single stage or 2 stage,,I am only saying with 2 stage there is less work in doing a small area were with single stage you have to do the whole panel to get close to a match ,,of course I am sure there are much better painters than me that can blend single stage and make it look great but I am not that good , I just find it easier with 2 stage paint when trying to match a an area such as bolt hole and do small area

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Nov 3, 2017 | 10:45 PM

rougeriver

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Joined: Mar 2005

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From: Wichita Falls TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72rtchallenger

Is it two stage paint or single like original paint ? If its two stage it is easier to blend if you match close base paint, but single stage paint is almost impossible to match

You know, I think you're absolutely right when it comes to the subject of blending matched paint for a repair. Your statement rings true when your last word "match" is changed to "blend".

David